Clamp mechanism for a cover assembly

ABSTRACT

A protective cover assembly for covering a space defined by at least one wall. The protective cover assembly includes a plurality of rails coupled to one another to form a frame for securing a material over the space. At least one support bow spans the space to support the material. Clamp mechanisms are coupled to the ends of the support bow for securing the protective cover assembly over the space. The clamp mechanisms include a latch member for engaging the wall and a handle for biasing the latch member against the wall. A collar is coupled to a portion of the support bow for guiding the handle and the latch member between an operational position and a stowed position relative to the support bow.

RELATED APPLICATION

The subject patent application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/468,344, filed on May 19, 2009, now U.S. patentSer. No. 12/903,012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/188,982, filed on Aug. 14, 2008, which are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a protective cover assemblyfor covering a space, and more specifically, to clamp systems forsecuring the protective cover assembly over the space.

BACKGROUND

Protective cover assemblies comprising a frame and a material coveringthe frame are well known for protecting spaces such as boats, wagons,trailers, as well as the cargo area of a pick-up truck. The frametypically includes a plurality of rails disposed about the perimeter ofthe space and at least one support bow spanning the space between therails for supporting the material.

To secure the frame over the space various systems have been employedover the years. In the past the protective cover was attached directlyto the walls defining the space. Although effective, this method is notpreferred due to the fact that a plurality of holes needed to be drilledinto the walls defining the space. The holes cause permanentdisfigurement to the appearance of the walls defining the space.Additionally, the holes invite an opportunity for corrosion thus causingfurther deterioration to the appearance and functionality of the walls.

In recent years, various clamp systems have been employed to secure theprotective cover of the space. The clamp systems eliminate the need topermanently alter the integrity of the walls defining the space andallow the protective cover to be more easily removed. Examples of clampsystems can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,830 to Ross Weldy and U.S.Pat. No. 7,188,888 to Donald Wheatley and David Daley.

The '830 patent discloses a clamp system having a handle for moving theclamp system between an operational position and a stored position. Alatch member is disposed adjacent the handle which defines a cammedprofile for biasing the latch member against the wall defining thespace. A track is defined by the support bow for guiding the clampsystem. A bolt comprising a head and a shank couples the handle andlatch member to the track. The head of the bolt rides within the trackbetween the operational and stored positions. The support bowadditionally defines a slot substantially perpendicular to the track foraccepting and securing the shank of the bolt and holding the clampmechanism in the stored position. When in the stored position the clampsystem is held cantilevered, substantially perpendicular to the track.

The '888 patent discloses a clamp system having a front clamp and a rearclamp. Both the front and rear clamps include a handle for moving theclamp system along a track defined by the support bow. A threaded membercomprising a shank and a trunnion member couples the handle to a trackdefined by the support bow. A pair of wheels are disposed on thetrunnion member for guiding each of the clamps between an operationalposition and a stored position. Additionally, the rear handle is springloaded for biasing the latch member against the wall. When the clampsystem of the '888 patent is in the stored position, the handle isdisposed within the track substantially flush with the support bow.

Both the '830 patent and the '888 patent disclose a clamp system havinga track defined by the support bow of the frame. The track has atendency to collect dirt and other debris which interferes with smoothoperation of the clamp assembly as well as causing other operationalissues. Therefore there remains an opportunity to develop a clamp systemfor reliably securing a protective cover assembly over a space that iseasy to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

The present invention provides a protective cover assembly for coveringa space defined by at least one wall of a bed of a truck. The protectivecover assembly comprises a rail and a support bow coupled to the rail. Amaterial is disposed over the rail and the support bow for covering thespace. A clamp mechanism is coupled to the support bow for securing theprotective cover assembly over the space. The clamp mechanism includes alatch member for engaging the wall. A handle operatively engages thelatch member for moving the latch member between an engaged position anda disengaged position. A collar is coupled to the latch member and isslidably coupled to a portion of the support bow for guiding the handleand the latch member between an operational and a stowed positionrelative to the support bow. A rod couples the collar to the latchmember.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a clamp mechanism forsecuring a protective cover over a space that is both easy and reliableto operate. Each clamp mechanism is easily adjusted within the rails toensure the cover is properly positioned over the space. The collarsmoothly translates relative to a support bow between operational andstowed positions. The clamp mechanism is held securely against the railwhen in the stowed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated,as the same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a pick-up truck including a protectivecover assembly with a cut away to show a plurality of clamp mechanismsof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an underside of the protective coverassembly.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a linking element ofthe clamp mechanism disposed within a channel defined by a side rail.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the clamp mechanism.

FIG. 4A is a top view of a link of the clamp mechanism taken along 4A-4Ain FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a handle and a latch member ofthe clamp mechanism.

FIG. 6A is a fragmented partial cross-sectional side view of the handleand the latch member in a disengaged position.

FIG. 6B is a fragmented partial cross-sectional side view of the handleand the latch member in an engaged position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism showing the handleand the latch member in the engaged position and illustrating movementof the handle and the latch member in phantom toward the disengagedposition.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism showing the latchmember disengaged from a wall defining a space and moving toward astowed portion of the link.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism illustratingrotation of the handle and the latch member about the stowed portion ofthe link.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism showing the handleand the latch member in a stowed position.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional end view taken along 11-11 in FIG.7 showing a collar of the clamp mechanism in an operational portion ofthe link.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional end view taken along 12-12 in FIG.9 illustrating the collar rotating about the stowed portion of the link.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along 13-13 in FIG. 10showing the collar in the stowed position.

FIG. 14 is a partially exploded view of a clamp mechanism of a secondembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism of the secondembodiment showing the handle and the latch member in the engagedposition and illustrating movement of the handle and the latch member inphantom to the disengaged position.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism of the secondembodiment showing the latch member disengaged from the wall andillustrating movement into a transitional portion on a link of thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism of the secondembodiment illustrating rotation of the handle and the latch memberabout the transitional portion of the link.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism of the secondembodiment showing the handle and the latch member in a stowed portionof the link with the handle and the latch member cantileveredsubstantially perpendicular to the link.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism of the secondembodiment showing the handle and the latch member in a stowed position.

FIG. 20 is a partial cross-sectional end view taken along 20-20 in FIG.15 illustrating the collar in the operational portion of the link of thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a partial cross-sectional end view taken along 21-21 in FIG.16 illustrating the collar in the transitional portion of the link ofthe second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a partial cross-sectional end view illustrating the collar inthe transitional portion of the link of the second embodiment partiallyrotated about the link.

FIG. 23 is a partial cross-sectional end view taken along 23-23 in FIG.17 illustrating the collar in the transitional portion of the link ofthe second embodiment fully rotated about the link.

FIG. 24 is a partial cross-sectional end view taken along 24-24 in FIG.18 illustrating the collar in a stowed portion on the link of the secondembodiment.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a clamp mechanism of a third embodimenthaving a plurality of ribs disposed along a link.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a clamp mechanism of a fourthembodiment having a latching bracket adapted to engage the wall definingthe space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, a protective coverassembly is generally shown at 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1, the protective cover assembly 20 isdisposed over a space 22 defined by at least one wall 24. It is to beappreciated that the at least one wall 24 is preferably a plurality ofwalls for defining the space 22 such as a cargo bed of a pick-up truck.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the protective cover assembly 20includes a plurality of rails 26 disposed about the space 22. Typically,the plurality of rails 26 are defined as a first side rail 28 and asecond side rail 30 spaced and substantially parallel to the first siderail 28 and each having a fore end 32 and an aft end 34. The pluralityof rails 26 further include a front rail 36 substantially perpendicularand coupled to the fore end 32 of each of the first side rail 28 and thesecond side rail 30. The plurality of rails 26 still further include arear rail 38 spaced from and parallel to the front rail 36 and coupledto the aft end 34 of each of the first side rail 28 and the second siderail 30. The rails 26 are coupled to one another to form a frame 40having an arrangement complimentary in configuration to the space 22.

A material 42 overlays the frame 40 for covering the space 22. Thematerial 42 may be of any suitable design and is preferably a type ofwater resistant canvas. At least one support bow 44, having a first end46 and a second end 48, is disposed between and substantiallyperpendicular to the first side rail 28 and the second side rail 30 forspanning the space 22. Depending on the size of the space 22 to becovered, additional support bows 44 may be required to properly supportthe material 42. It is to be appreciated that any number of support bows44 may be utilized without deviating from the subject invention. Thesupport bow 44 is useful to help keep the material 42 taut over thespace 22 and to prevent the material 42 from sagging.

A clamp mechanism 50 is coupled to the support bow 44 for securing theprotective cover assembly 20 over the space 22. In other words, oneclamp mechanism 50 is attached to each of the first end 46 and thesecond end 48 of the support bow 44. In the preferred embodiment, eachclamp mechanism 50 operationally joins the frame 40 to the support bow44, specifically to the first side rail 28 and the second side rail 30.Referring additionally to FIG. 3, each of the first side rail 28 and thesecond side rail 30 define a channel 51 having a generally T-shapedconfiguration. The first side rail 28 and the second side rail 30 areoriented in a mirrored relationship such that each channel 51 faces theother and is open toward the space 22. A linking element 52 having aportion which defines a configuration complementary to the channel 51slidingly engages the channel 51 for securing the clamp mechanism 50 toeach of the side rails 28, 30. Each linking element 52 additionallyincludes an appendage 54 defining a hole 56. The hole 56 accepts afastener 58 for securing the linking element 52 within the channel 51.

The clamp mechanism 50 further includes a link or shaft 60 disposed onthe linking element 52 for interconnecting the linking element 52 andthe support bow 44. For descriptive purposes only, the term shaft 60will be subsequently utilized, but it is appreciated by those skilled inthe art that the link does not necessarily need to be shaft-shaped toaccomplish the operation of the subject invention. As best shown in FIG.4, the shaft 60 defines a first cross-sectional configuration along anoperational portion 62 of the shaft 60. The first cross-sectionalconfiguration includes a first arcuate section 64 having a firstdiameter and a flat section 66. The first cross-sectional configurationis further defined as having a D-shaped configuration. However, it is tobe appreciated that the shaft 60 may define other suitableconfigurations without deviating from the subject invention.

As best shown in FIG. 4A, the shaft 60 further defines a secondcross-sectional configuration along a stowed portion 68 of the shaft 60.The second cross-sectional configuration presents a set of second flatsections 70 interconnected by a second arcuate section 71 having asecond diameter substantially smaller than the first diameter of thefirst arcuate section. The shaft 60 defines a central axis C and issymmetrical about the central axis C.

The clamp mechanism 50 further includes a slide 72 that is adapted to becoupled to a portion of the support bow 44, which in the preferredembodiment is the shaft 60. Without intending to be limiting, the slide72 may also be referred to as a collar 72. The slide or collar 72 isadapted to move along the shaft 60. The slide or collar 72 has anextending flange 73. In one embodiment of the clamp mechanism, as shownis FIG. 4, the slide or collar 72 defines an aperture 74 having a flatsegment 76 and an arcuate segment 78 that is complementary inconfiguration to the first cross-sectional configuration of the shaft 60for restricting movement to only translation along the operationalportion 62 of the shaft 60 and preventing rotation of the collar 72about the operational portion 62 of the shaft 60. The collar 72 is ableto rotate about the shaft 60 when in the stowed portion 68 of the shaft60. The slide or collar 72 may have any suitable configuration dependingupon the configuration of the link or shaft 60. Operation of the clampmechanism 50 will be discussed in greater detail below.

Referring additionally to FIG. 5, the clamp mechanism 50 also includes ahandle 80. The handle 80 defines a cammed profile 82 and a pair ofridges 84 projecting from the cammed profile 82 for defining a path. Theclamp mechanism further includes a latch member 86 defining asubstantially U-shaped configuration and having a pair of followers 88disposed within the U-shaped configuration. The latch member 86 isoperationally coupled to the handle 80. The followers 88 ride along thepath defined by the ridges 84 between an engaged position and adisengaged position. The path-follower relationship of the handle 80 tothe latch member 86 ensures smooth operation between the engagedposition and the disengaged position.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the latch member 86 defines agroove 90 between the followers 88 and the groove 90 includes an endwall 92. The handle 80 also includes a tab 94 disposed between theridges 84. The groove 90 is configured to accept the tab 94 forrestricting movement of the handle 80 relative to the latch member 86.As best shown in FIG. 6B, the end wall 92 acts as a positive stop forthe tab 94 to ensure that the handle 80 stops in a position for exertinga biasing force against the latch member 86 when in the engagedposition.

The clamp mechanism 50 further includes a rod 96 pivotly coupled to theslide or collar 72. In one embodiment of the clamp mechanism, as shownin FIG. 4, the rod 96 is coupled to the extending flange 73 of the slideor collar 72. In the most preferred embodiment, the rod 96 is pivotlycoupled to the flange 73. The rod 96 has a plurality of threads disposedthereupon. An elongated nut 98 is disposed within the handle 80 forthreadingly accepting the rod 96 and coupling the collar 72 to thehandle 80 and latch member 86. The latch member 86 may be adjusted toaccommodate various applications by rotating the handle 80 and movingthe latch member 86 along the rod 96. The pivot connection between therod 96 and the collar 72 is beneficial for reducing stresses imparted onthe rod 96 when moving the handle between the engaged and disengagedpositions.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the handle 80 defines a recess 100 having apredetermined width and a predetermined depth. Referring now to FIG. 9,a clip 102 also slidingly engages the channel 51 defined by the siderails 28, 30 and is disposed adjacent each clamp mechanism 50. The clip102 has a pair of fingers 104 spaced from one another. Together thefingers 104 present a total width slightly larger than the predeterminedwidth of the recess 100 such that an interference fit may be achievedwhen the recess 100 defined by the handle 80 is pushed over the fingers104 of the clip 102 for securing the handle 80 against one of the siderails 28, 30 thereby securing the handle 80 and the latch member 86 in astowed position on the stowed portion 68 of the shaft. When this occurs,the fingers 104 are biased inwardly toward one another with a springbias and a frictional force of the interference fit acting to hold thehandle 80 in place on the clip 102.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 7-13, an example of the operation of theclamp mechanism 50 will be discussed to illustrate the movement of thehandle 80 and the latch member 86 from an operational position forsecuring the protective cover assembly 20 over the space 22 to thestowed position of the handle 80 and latch member 86 when the space 22needs to be accessed or when the protective cover assembly 20 is to bestored.

As shown in FIG. 7, the handle and latch member 86 of the clampmechanism 50 are in the operational position and the latch member 86 isin contact with the wall 24 defining the space 22. The cammed profile 82of the handle 80 provides the biasing force necessary, when in theengaged position, to secure the protective cover assembly 20 over thespace 22. To move the latch member 86 to a disengaged position, thehandle 80 is rotated about the elongated nut 98 disposed within thehandle 80, as illustrated in phantom. The biasing force is removed andthe latch member 86 disengages from the wall 24. Referring to FIG. 8,the latch member 86 is pulled away from the wall 24 and the handle 80 isreturned to the engaged position for ease of operation. A user graspsthe handle 80 to translate the collar 72 along the operational portion62 of the shaft 60 toward the stowed portion 68.

As stated above, the stowed portion 68 of the shaft 60 is adjacent theoperational portion 62 of the shaft 60. Referring to FIG. 9, when thecollar 72 reaches the stowed portion 68 of the shaft 60, the collar 72may rotate about the shaft 60. The collar 72 rotates approximately 90degrees; however, any amount of rotation may be employed withoutdeviating from the subject invention. When the collar 72 is rotatedabout the stowed portion 68 of the shaft 60, the flat segment 76 of theaperture 74 defined by the collar 72 is no longer aligned with the flatsection 66 of the shaft 60. Therefore the collar 72 is restricted frommoving back onto the operational portion 62 of the shaft 60. The flatsegment 76 of the aperture 74 may be realigned with the flat section 66of the shaft 60 for allowing the collar to reenter the operationalportion 62 of the shaft 60. As best shown in FIG. 10, the handle 80 andlatch member 86 are then urged toward one of the first side rail 28 orsecond side rail 30 and the recess 100 defined by the handle 80 coupleswith the clip 102 for securing the handle 80 and latch member 86 againstthe one of the side rails 28, 30.

Depending on the application, multiple clamp mechanisms 50 may beemployed. The same steps would be followed to disengage each latchmember 86 and move the handle 80 and latch member 86 into the stowedposition.

To secure the protective cover assembly 20 over the space 22 theprocedure recited above would simply be reversed. The handle 80 ispulled away from the side rail 28,30 to disengage the clip 102 from therecess 100 defined by the handle 80. When the handle 80 is free of theclip 102, the collar 72 is able to rotate about the shaft 60 and theaperture 74 is aligned with the first cross-sectional configuration ofthe operational portion 62 of the shaft 60. The collar 72 is translatedalong the operational portion 62 of the shaft 60 toward the wall 24defining the space 22. The handle 80 is rotated about the elongated nut98 to the disengaged position and the latch member 86 lowers and engagesthe wall 24. The handle 80 is then rotated about the elongated nut 98again to the engaged position for biasing the latch member 86 againstthe wall 24.

As shown in FIG. 14, a second embodiment utilizes components that aresubstantially similar to the primary embodiment. However a shaft 260defines a different configuration from that of the shaft 60 of the firstembodiment. In the second embodiment, the shaft 260 defines threecross-sectional configurations. The first cross-sectional configurationis defined as the operational portion 262 and is substantially similarto the operational portion 62 of the primary embodiment described above.The first cross-sectional configuration has a first arcuate section 264and a first flat section 266 and is also defined as D-shaped. Similar tothe primary embodiment, the first cross-sectional configurationrestricts movement of the collar 72 to only translation along theoperational portion 262 of the shaft 260 and prohibits rotation aboutthe operational portion 262 of the shaft 260.

The shaft 260 of the second embodiment further defines a secondcross-sectional configuration. The second cross-sectional configurationof the second embodiment is defined as a transitional portion 200 and isdisposed adjacent the operational portion 262. The transitional portion200 comprises a second arcuate section 270. The second arcuate section270 is recessed from the first arcuate section 264 for allowing thecollar 72 to rotate about the shaft 260. However, unlike the primaryembodiment described above, the collar 72 may only rotate about theshaft 260 in a single direction. The shaft 260 of the second embodimentalso defines a central axis C, however the shaft 260 is not symmetricalabout the central axis C.

The shaft 260 also defines a third cross-sectional configuration. Thethird cross-sectional configuration is defined as a stowed portion 268and has a second flat section 202 substantially perpendicular to thefirst flat section 266 for allowing the collar 72 to slide over and lockinto a stored position such that the handle 80 cantilevers outsubstantially perpendicular to the support bow 44.

Operation of the clamp mechanism 250 of the second embodiment is similarto that of the primary embodiment described above. As shown in FIG. 15,the handle 80 and the latch member 86 of the clamp mechanism 250 are inthe engaged position and the latch member 86 is in contact with the wall24 defining the space 22. The cammed profile 82 of the handle 80provides the biasing force necessary to secure the protective coverassembly 20 over the space 22. To move the latch member 86 to adisengaged position, the handle 80 is rotated about the elongated nut 98disposed within the handle 80, as illustrated in phantom. The biasingforce is removed and the latch member 86 disengages from the wall 24.Referring to FIG. 16, the latch member 86 is pulled away from the wall24 and the handle 80 is returned to the engaged position for ease ofoperation. The user grasps the handle 80 to translate the collar 72along the operational portion 262 of the shaft 260 toward thetransitional portion 200. As shown in FIG. 17, when the collar 72 is inthe transitional portion 200 of the shaft 260 the collar 72 may rotateabout the shaft 260. However, in the second embodiment when the collar72 is rotated and the flat segment 76 of the aperture 74 defined by thecollar 72 is aligned with the second flat section 202 on the shaft 260,the collar 72 is pushed over to the stowed portion 268. When the collar72 is in the stowed portion 268 of the shaft 260; the handle 80, thelatch member 86, and the rod 96 are held substantially perpendicular tothe shaft 260, as shown in FIG. 18. Referring to FIG. 19, the handle 80may be secured adjacent the side rail 28,30 with the clip 102 disposedwithin the channel defined by the side rail 28,30, similar to theprimary embodiment described above.

Referring now to FIG. 25, in a third embodiment, a plurality of ribs 300are disposed along the arcuate section of the shaft 360. A secondplurality of ribs (not shown) are correspondingly disposed within thecollar 72 for meshing with the plurality of ribs disposed 300 along theshaft 360 for resisting an unwanted movement of the collar 72 withrespect to the shaft 360 when in the engaged position.

In a fourth embodiment, shown in FIG. 26, a latching bracket 400 may beadapted to engage the at least one wall 24 for accepting the latchmember 86 in cases where having the latching member engage the wall 24directly is not desired or is not practical.

Although each embodiment has been described as having a cross-sectionalconfiguration for allowing rotation of the collar 72 about the shaft 60,260 disposed adjacent the support bow 44, this cross-sectionalconfiguration for allowing rotation may also be located adjacent thewall 24 defining the space 22. In other words, the cross-sectionalconfiguration for allowing rotation of the collar 72 about the shaft 60,260 may be located anywhere along the shaft 60, 260 without deviatingfrom the subject invention.

The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner, andit is to be understood that the terminology which as been used inintended to be in the nature of words of description rather than oflimitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. The inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective cover assembly for covering a spacedefined by at least one wall of a bed of a truck, said protective coverassembly comprising; a rail, a support bow coupled to said rail, amaterial disposed over said rail and said support bow for covering thespace of the bed of the truck, and a clamp mechanism coupled to saidsupport bow for securing said protective cover assembly over the space,said clamp mechanism including: a latch member for engaging the at leastone wall, a handle operatively engaging said latch member for movingsaid latch member between an engaged position and a disengaged position,a slide having an extending flange and coupled to said latch member anddirectly connected to a portion of said support bow and remainingconnected to said support bow when in both an operational and a stowedposition and sliding relative to said support bow between theoperational and the stowed positions for guiding said handle and saidlatch member between the operational position and the stowed positionrelative to said support bow, and a rod coupled to said extending flangeof said slide and operatively engaging said latch member.
 2. The coverassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch member is adjustablealong said rod.
 3. The cover assembly as set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid rod includes a plurality of threads and wherein said handleincludes a threaded fastener for threadingly accepting said rod.
 4. Thecover assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle defines acammed profile for biasing said latch member against the at least onewall when in said engaged position.
 5. The cover assembly as set forthin claim 1 wherein said rail is further defined as a first side rail anda second side rail spaced and substantially parallel to said first siderail and further including a front rail and a rear rail spaced andsubstantially parallel to said front rail and substantiallyperpendicular to said first side rail and said second side rail forminga frame complementary in configuration to the space.
 6. The coverassembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a second clampmechanism coupled to said support bow opposite said clamp mechanism forsecuring said protective cover assembly over the space.
 7. The coverassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portion of said supportbow is further defined as a link mounting said support bow to said rail.8. The cover assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said link definesa first cross-sectional configuration along an operational portion ofsaid link and said slide defines an inner surface having a shapecomplementary in configuration to said first cross-sectionalconfiguration to prevent rotation of said slide relative to said link.9. The cover assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said link furtherdefines a second cross-sectional configuration along a stowed portion ofsaid link for allowing said handle and said latch member to rotate intosaid stowed position.
 10. The cover assembly as set forth in claim 1wherein said rod is pivotally coupled to said slide.
 11. The coverassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slide is supported by saidsupport bow for supporting said handle and said latch member relative tosaid support bow.
 12. The cover assembly as set forth in claim 11wherein said slide includes an annular portion engaging said portion ofsaid support bow.
 13. A protective cover assembly for covering a spacedefined by at least one wall of a bed of a truck, said protective coverassembly comprising; a rail, a support bow coupled to said rail, amaterial disposed over said rail and said support bow for covering thespace of the bed of the truck, and a clamp mechanism coupled to saidsupport bow for securing said protective cover assembly over the space,said clamp mechanism including: a latch member for engaging the at leastone wall, a handle operatively engaging said latch member for movingsaid latch member between an engaged position and a disengaged position,a slide coupled to said latch member and slidably coupled to a portionof said support bow and remaining coupled to said support bow when inboth an operational and a stowed position for guiding said handle andsaid latch member between the operational position and the stowedposition relative to said support bow, and a rod coupled to said slideand operatively engaging said latch member with said rod being pivotallycoupled to said slide.
 14. The cover assembly as set forth in claim 13wherein said latch member is adjustable along said rod.
 15. The coverassembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said rail is further definedas a first side rail and a second side rail spaced and substantiallyparallel to said first side rail and further including a front rail anda rear rail spaced and substantially parallel to said front rail andsubstantially perpendicular to said first side rail and said second siderail forming a frame complementary in configuration to the space. 16.The cover assembly as set forth in claim 13 further including a secondclamp mechanism coupled to said support bow opposite said clampmechanism for securing said protective cover assembly over the space.17. The cover assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said portion ofsaid support bow is further defined as a link mounting said support bowto said rail wherein said link defines a first cross-sectionalconfiguration along an operational portion of said link and said slidedefines an inner surface having a shape complementary in configurationto said first cross-sectional configuration to prevent rotation of saidslide relative to said link.
 18. The cover assembly as set forth inclaim 13 wherein said slide is configured to directly engage saidportion of said support bow and be supported by said support bow forsupporting said handle and said latch member relative to said supportbow.